Mechanism for charging containers



Oct. 26, R spu MECHANISM FOR CHARGING CONTAINERS 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 8, 1946 Oct. 26, 1954 R. SPURR 2,692,717

MECHANISM FOR CHARGING CONTAINERS Original Filed July 8, 194s 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 26, 1954 SPURR 2,692,717

MECHANISM FOR CHARGING CONTAINERS Original Filed July 8, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 26, 1954 sp 1 2,692,717

MECHANISM FOR CHARGING CONTAINERS Original Filed July 8, 1946- 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 26, 1954 R. SPURR MECHANISM FOR CHARGING CONTAINERS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed July 8, 1946 Oct. 26, 1954 R. SPURR MECHANISM FOR CHARGING CONTAINERS Original Filed July 8, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Oct. 26, 1954' R. SPURR MECHANISM FOR CHARGING CONTAINERS 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Original Filed July 8, 1946 clnsei UNITED STATES Patented Oct. 26, 1954 MECHANISM FOR CHARGING CONTAINERS Original application July 8, 1946, Serial No. 682,013. Divided and this application February iATENT OFFICE 8, 1951, Serial. No. 210,001

4 Claims.

In Patent No. 2,353,519, granted July 11, 1944, there is disclosed and claimed a mechanism for charging containers, such mechanism being of the fully automatic type and so designed and constructed as to be capable of charging a precisely measured volume of liquid into each container of a series of empty containers successively presented to it by conveying mechanism.

The charging mechanism of the patented machine includes a liquid storage tank mounted Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Figure upon a rotatablle turret and a number of liquid gigure 3:1 is a S%Jti9ng'1%inecg 3 {cg Fliglllllei'jfi measuring an dispensing devices adapted to ure 1s a 0r 1z0 a se on ro g function while the turret rotates in a continuous m disclosing 1n p anportlons of the assomanner, associated means successively placing (Slated mechanlsm for p f p y cqntamers empty containers on the turret at one point and upon t turret t n t n d r movin fil d a second means removing filled or charged coneonialners at another Station; tainers from the turret at a second or discharge etur 4;, 4b tand 40f disclose ldetails off constation, the mechanism as a whole,.including 5 T116 1on 0 D 1011s 0 8 H160 amsm both the rotary turret and tank and the com moving charged containers from the turret, the tainer loading and unloading mechanisms, being a e l elat ng parts being shown, in the several particularly well suited for use in association VleWS, 1n i posltlons Whlch y Successlvely with other essential mechanisms of a completely o upy during the operation of flexing or squarautomatic machine for the fabrication, coating, mg F 32 charging, closing, and sealing of paper c Flgure 01s a vert1calsect1on through the rotattainers. Such machines have been designed parmg Purret; ticularly for use in dairies and are now widely 1 i i g s 6 agirllrluziseaclhdisglgse Z porttiin fofS used or the automatic packaging of milk for "1391 g me 9 W11 par 0 distribution to consumers Without material mechanism being illustrated in different positions modification, however, other liquids may be m h two Ylews; packaged by means of the improved Charging Figure 8 1S a tion on 1116 8 8 of Figure 6, mechanism Figure 9 shows in s1de elevation portion of The present invention is intended to accomthe charging mechanism, this portion constitutplish the major functions of the charging mechamg the lower F of the dlscharg? condult nism previously patented but embodies a num thlQllgh Which qul d passes to a container; ber of features of improvement which render it figure 10 a Sectloi} 0n am-l0 0f Flgurefi; more satisfactory to the user in certain respects, Flgure 11 1S a sectlon on 11119 of the mechanism as an entirety having been simme plified to a substantial extent by a reduction in Flgliire g g w Vlew 2 {301171011 of the number of moving parts and various eleemen 9 c j e mec amsm; ments of the mechanism having been so designed Flgllre 13 1S a perspectlve iew of a part to be and arranged with respect to other mechanisms 40 mounted upon the element lnustmted m of the apparatus as a whole as to be more readure ily reached for the purpose of sterilization, adfig 'g 5 fi gggg fi fi f gg 23 justment or disassembly. The mechanism which effects the accurate measuring of the liquid to 23 fl $9 contlamer 2 i thls be charged has been redesigned, simplified and 5 6 122 5 i fi g g g g as im roved. the f ur e g those g i g? g gi gjg i gg fg g Figure 15 1s a similar section, showing certain 1k 1 t d t t W of the operating parts of this means in positions g iepalrs or adms men even after diiierent from the positions which they are shown [mg per 0 s 0 I to occupy in Figure 14, i. e., in the positions which In h accompanymg F F g preferred they occupy when liquid is actually flowing into embodiment of the mechanism is illustrated and th open upper end of a container; W111 hereafter be descrIbed in detail. It Will bt) Figure 16 is an end iew of a, alve member appreciated that the embodlment of the invenwhich forms an element of the mechanism tion thus illustrated is susceptible of modification shown in Figures 14 and 15;

to suit varying conditions, as when liquids other than mill: are to be accurately measured and discharged into containers, and when containers having sizes and shapes different from that illustrated are to be charged. The invention is thus not limited to the specific machine illustrated by way of example.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of the mechanism;

3 Figure 17 is a section on line H--il of Figure 4;

Figure 18 is a section on line i8l8 of Figure 17;

Figure 19 is a section on line l9i9 of Figure 17;

Figure 20 is a similar section, showing the operating parts illustrated in different relative positions;

Figure 21 is a section on line 2I2| of Figure 1;

Figure 22 is a section online 22--22 of Figure 1;

Figure 23 is a diagram from which may be observed the several stations in the cycle of movement of the turret at which movements of the principal or more essential elements of the container charging and associated mechanisms occur; and

Figure 24 is a perspective View of a container of the type which the mechanism has been primarily designed to fill or charge.

The container of Figure 24 comprises the subject matter of Patent No. 2,07,891 issued July 14, 1936, to Henry T. Scott, and is fabricated of paper. it has an elongated tubular body which is square in cross-section and, as illustrated in Figure 24, has been partially completed, the bottom flaps having been folded and secured to form a staunch bottom closure, the container having been coated with paraiiin or other liquid-proofing substance, and its upper end portion, comprising a group of marginally inter-connected panels, having been placed in condition to be finally relatively folded after the charging operation has been completed, preparatory to the final operations of sealing. The container is relatively stiff and self-supporting so that it will retain its shape as it goes through the container charging mechanism. It is quite possible, however, to charge by means of the improved mechanism of this invention containers which vary widely in shape and details of construction, provided that the container to be charged is self-supporting and has sufficient strength as a column to actuate the valve means of the charging mechanism when the container is raised so that its upper end engages such means.

The mechanism includes a charging apparatus which is generally indicated at A, and associated apparatus, generally indicated at B, for conveying a series of empty containers to the charging apparatus and depositing those containers successively onto such apparatus, and a further associated apparatus, generally indicated at D, which serves to remove from the charging apparatus A the charged or filled containers as they reach a discharge station, the container removal apparatus including conveying means for transporting the charged containers to mechanisms for closing and sealing the same. Each container, as it passes apparatus 13, charging mechanism A, and apparatus D sucessively occupies a series of positions which are indicated in Figures 1, 4 and other figures of the drawings by the reference numerals C, C G etc.

Containers at positions C, C and C are supported upon the upper reach of a conveyor of the endless chain type which is moving in the direction of the arrow G to be seen in Figure 1. Each container, upon reaching C is engaged by a pusher arm or a rotating head and is caused to successively pass through positions such as indicated at C being ultimately delivered onto a container support which comprises a portion of the filling or charging mechanism A. A container at position C (Figure 1) is seen to be passing onto such a container support positioned to receive it. From position C it will pass, moving in the direction of the arrow H, along an arc of substantially 270, around thevertical axis of the charging unit A until it reaches position 0*. As it reaches that position it is contacted by a pusher element of a conveyor which comprises a portion of the container removal mechanism D and is pushed oiT of the container support upon which it has been resting and advanced along a trackway to astation at which it is to be further processed: It is during the passage of the container from container position C to container position C that it is charged with liquid, there being a liquid measuring and charging device associated with each container support having a liquid discharge orifice directly above the same.

The mechanism for actually charging the containers successively with liquid will first be described in detail. The moving parts of the charging mechanism are mounted on a frame which is indicated at it in the drawings and which may be of any desired construction, being either an individual stand or forming a portion only of the frame of a larger machine. Supported in the frame H] is a vertically disposed stationary shaft H having fixed upon its upper end a stationary disc-like member 12. Member i2 has a thickened periphery i211 which has formed therein a downwardly opening slot [21), this slot comprising a cam slot or cam track. Mounted upon shaft I i, so as to be freely rotatable about the axis of' that shaft, is a turret member i3, themounting means preferably comprising roller bearings such as indicated at M and 55, respectively. Turret It includes a generally cylindrical central portion it, a downwardly and outwardly flaring integral lower portion ll, which terminates in a horizontal annular flange i8, and a member !9 supported upon the upper end of cylindrical part lfithereof, member i-S- comprising a generally horizontal annular portion 19a, which terminates in a cylindrical peripheral flange I912. The inner margin of member 19 is received Within an annular groove formed in the thickened upper end of the cylindrical part l6 of the turret, bolts or other securing devices 2! securing the member l9 rigidly in position.

The upper edge of the cylindrical portion I91) of member i9 is cut away to provide an annular seat for a ring 2i, ring 2i in turn supporting the liquid tank 22. Tank 22 is circular in horizontal section and is concentric and revoluble with the turret structure. It is supplied with liquid, from time to time as needed, through a liquid inlet duct 25 disposed co-axially of the tank and turret, the inflow or" liquid being controlled by a valve V carried by a float 26. The arrangement is such that the liquid in the tank will not fall below a level indicated. by the line 21 and will not rise above a level indicated by line 28. The details of the float and valve form no portion of the present invention and need not be described in detail.

Disposed within the tank 22 are a series of liquid receiving vessels 30, these vessels being positioned equi-distantly from the axis of rotation of the tank and being equi-distantly spaced apart, there being one such vessel for each container support with its liquid discharge duct leading downwardly from such measuring vessel and terminating directly over the associated container support so as to be in position to discharge liquid directly into the open mouth of a container mounted on that support, as previously set forth. Each vessel comprises an enlarged central portion 30, a hollow tubular portion 30?) extending upwardly therefrom and terminating in a liquid discharge port, each vessel 30 also having at its lower end a tubular extension 30d which passes downwardly'through an aperture in the generally horizontal bottom wall 22a of the tank 22.

l It will be observed from an inspection of Figure 14 that there is formed upon the outer surface of the tubular prolongation 30d of the vessel 30 a peripheral flange 30c, the undersurface of which is conical. A clamping ring 33 directly .underlies the flange 30e, this ring being supis easily possible to readily disassemble the several parts for the purpose of sterilization. The

downwardly extending tubular portion 30d of each fluid measuring device is apertured just above flange 3% as at 33f, and aperture 30 comprises the entry port through which liquid from the tank may flow into the measuring vessel when the port is uncovered.

The inflow of liquid from the tank into the vessel 30 is controlled by a sleeve slidably housed within tubular extension 30d. When sleeve 35 occupies the position in which it is shown in Figures '7, 14 and 15, the inflow of liquid from tank 22 may not occur. When port 30f is uncovered by a lowering of sleeve 35 to the position in which it is shown in Figure 6, liquid may flow freely through the port 36 as indicated by the arrowin Figure 6, and willrise in the measuring vessel to the level of the liquid in the tank, that is, until the upper level of the liquid within the measuring vessel is somewhere along the tubular upward extension 302) of that vessel, between the minimum and maximum tank liquid levels indicated by the lines 21 and 28.

Slidably mounted upon the lower end of sleeve 35 is a tubular member 36, sleeve 35 being provided with a vertically extending slot 35a and member 36 with an inwardly projecting element 36a extending into the slot so that member 36 may not rotate upon sleeve 35 although being at all times free to move axially thereon to a limited extent. The lower end of member 36 is provided with an external annular flange 36b which is provided with diametrically opposed, oppositely projecting extensions 360, which can be seen clearly in Figure 9. Member 36 is interiorly restricted toward its lower end so as to provide an upwardly facing conical surface 36d and a downwardly facing conical surface which terminates in a conical seat 36c. Conical seat 36c normally rests upon the upwardly facing conical surface of a valve 31, this valve being rigidly secured or integral with the lower end of a stem 38 extending through the sleeve 35. Secured to or integral with the upper end of stem 38 is a second valve, indicated at 39, having a downwardly facing conical surface adapted to closely engage an upwardly facing conical surface formed upon the upper end of sleeve 35 so as to tightly close the upper end of the sleeve against the inflow of liquid. Normally, valve 39 is positioned as shown in Figure 14 and the member 36 rests upon valve 31, as also shown in this figure.

With these parts in the positions just described, no liquid can escape from the measuring vessel to the container C shown just below. Should, however, the container C be elevated from the position in which it is shown in Figure 14 to the position in which it is shown in Figure 15, the upper edges, C of the container, one of which isshown in Figure 14, will engage the undersurfaces of the flanges 36c previously referred to, the tubular member 36 will be lifted, as, for instance, from the position in which it is shown in Figure 14 to the position in which it is shown in Figure 15, the seating surface 36c will disengage the valve 31, thus opening the lower end of member 36, the stem 38 and valve 39 will be lifted, thus uncovering the inlet port at the upper end of sleeve 35, and the liquid contained in the measuring cylinder 36 will be free to flow downwardly through sleeve 35 and will be discharged into the container C, the flow continuing until the measuring cylinder has been completely emptied. A drip-guard integral with member 36 is indicated at 361, this guard serving to catch and divert any falling liquid and to discharge that liquid over a pouring lip 36h laterally of the container beneath, thus preventing accidental contamination.

As will be observed in Figures 14 and 15, valve stem 38 is provided with lateral projections adjacent its upper end which maintain the axis of the valve substantially coincident with the axis of sleeve 35 when the valve is raised off of its seat, as indicated in Figure 15, these lateral projections being indicated at 36a and extending radially outwardly from the valve stem. Toward its lower end stem 33 is provided with a radially extending web or projection 38b, upon one side thereof, and a smaller projection 38c extending radially from the opposite side. The radial web 38b is provided toward its lower end with an inclined edge 38d which is only slightly spaced above the conical surface 36d of member 36 when member 36 is resting upon valve 31. The upper corner 38f of web 38b is inclined or rounded as shown and is normally spaced only a slight'distance from the conical or inclined surface 350 formed upon the lower end of sleeve 35. When member 36 is elevated from the position in which it is shown in Figure 14 to the position shown in Figure 15, the conical surface 36d strikes the inclined face 38d of web 38b, and further upward movement of member 36 causes surface 38 to ride over inclined surface 350 as a cam surface, laterally deflecting the web 38b and the stem 36, this movement continuing until the valve 31 is eccentrically positioned with respect to its seat, as shown in Figure 15. As a result, the aperture intermediate the mutually facing conical surfaces of valve 3'! and member 36 is crescent shaped in horizontal section, and a liquid stream which is crescent shaped in cross section and of varying thickness will be discharged downwardly and outwardly against the walls of the container below. It is highly advantageous to discharge the liquid in this manner in any case where the liquid being discharged has a tendency to foam, as does milk, the foaming being to a large extent prevented when a discharge device of the character described is utilized.

In order that the stem 33 and associated valves may be readily removed, the lower valve 3! is detachably secured to the lower end of stem 38, as

indicated Figures and T6 of the drawings.

Valve 31 functions as a drip valve, tightly closing the lower end of the discharge conduit leading from the measuring vessel. as soon as a container '0 is lowered after having been charged. During the time, therefore, that no container is in contact. with member 36 there ,may be no leakage, this being a consideration of importance in the case of a machine for the packaging of liquid food products.

The sleeve 35 not only constitutes a tubular duct through which liquid may pass to a container to be charged, and a valve controlling the inflow of liquid into vessel 30 through port 39 but likewise constitutes a portionof the metering mechanism whereby a liquid charge, destined tobe introduced into a container, may be measured with exactitude. Thus, when valve 39 is in closed position, as indicated in Figure 14, sleeve 35 and this valve taken together constitute a plunger which, if moved upwardly past the port 36-1", will reduce the cubic content of the liquid chamber which includes the relatively large vessel. 30a together with that portion of the interior of tubular extension tlib which lies above the event, some liquid is discharged from the upper endv of the tubular extension 3% so that it may be assured that the liquid has risen to the mouth of the discharge port of this extension and that the liquid receiving space of the device has been completely filled. The vertical travel of sleeve 35 may be precisely regulated and the means for effecting the vertical movements of this sleeve and its associated parts so that it will first function as a valve and thereafter as a metering plunger will now be described.

From an inspection of Figure 6 it will be perceived that, approximately midway between the ends of the. sleeve, are two laterally extending parallel flanges indicated at 35 Positioned intermediate flanges 35 is one end of a bell crank lever which is generally designated at L. The arm. 42 of lever L' extends in a generally horizontal direction and the free outer end thereof, which. terminates intermediate flanges 35 of the sleeve is provided with enlarged corner portions 42a with rounded upper and lower surfaces adapted to engage respectively the mutually facing surfaces of flanges 35 To the widened free end of lever 42 is attached a member 53 comprising a bridging bar 43a and wing portions 431) disposed in parallel planes. The enlarged terminal ends of these members 4% closely engage the parallel end surfaces of the flanges 35] as shown in Figure 10, and the member 43 thus serves to prevent rotation of the sleeve 35 about its axis.

The other arm of the bell lever crank L is a built-up construction and is telescopic so as to be variable in length. It includes as an outer member a sleeve 44 having a spherical enlargement 44a and an inner member in the nature of a spindle 55 which extends upwardly into the cam track [21) previously described. Rotatably mounted upon the upper end of spindle 55 is a roller 56 with a spherical surface, this roller being a cam follower. The spindle 55 is provided with a longitudinally extending elongated slot 55a passing 8 entirely therethrough', this slot having an enlargement 55b at its lower end, as; shown inFigure 6. Spindle 55 is likewise provided with an axial bore at its lower end which is interiorly threaded, and this bore receives the exteriorly threaded member 51 which is secured to and rotatable with a cup-shaped cap 58. Cap 58' may be exteriorly knurled or roughened, and isprovided' with an annular outwardly projecting flange 58a which may be clamped between the annular lower end surface of member 44 and the inner annular flange 58b of a cup-shaped locknut 69. Lock-nut 60, when tightened, clamps flange 58a of cap 58, holds threaded memberEi against rotation, and thus maintains spindle 55in fixed relationship to member 44. The spindle, however, may be vertically adjusted by releasing the lock-nut 60 and rotating cap. 58 and threaded member 51 so that the distance between the cam follower 56 and the axis upon which the lever is mounted may be varied at will, thus varying the angle of oscillation of the lever under the influence of the cam and the vertical travel of the sleeve 35. Action of the sleeve 35 and valve 3 9 as a metering plunger may thus be modified.

Extending through slot 55a is a member 62 which comprises a pivot upon which the lever L is mounted for rocking movement. The mid-portion. of member 52 is of reduced diameter, as clearly shown in Figure 8, while the end portions are larger and comprise: trunnions which engage in cylindrical apertures formed. in the annular supporting member 63 secured to the undersurface of the horizontally extending portion [9a of the, turret part it previously referred to. As thus formed and supported, the entire lever L may be easily removed for the purpose of repair or sterilization, the spindle. 55 being first elevated until the enlarged cylindrical recess at the bottom of the slot is coaxial with member 62, whereupon the member may be moved longitudinally until the lever is disengaged and the lever lowered and removed.

The outer surface of the intermediate portion 44a of the outer part 44 of the vertical leg of the lever L is, as previously stated, spherical. Encircling this portion and engaging the upper surface thereof is a ring 64 having a spherical downwardly facing surface normally maintained in close engagement with the surface of the spherical enlargement 44a by means of a helical spring 65. Ring 64 constitutes a movable spring abutment and the arrangement is such that the sleeve 44 is at all times pressed downwardly uponits supporting pin 62, play being thus prevented even though wear may cause looseness. The cam track H2) is so formed that, as the turret it revolves about its vertical axis, the several; levers L will be rocked or oscillated about their horizon.- tal axes. to produce the desired risingand falling movements of the corresponding sleeves 35 associated with the measuring vessels. The filling, metering and discharging operations of each liquid measuring means thus occur in desired sequence. From an inspection of Figure 23 the sequence and extent of the various operations of the moving parts of the mechanism may be observed.

The container supports are arranged in a circular series as previously explained, there being one container support, for each liquid measuring device and each being directly below such device. These supports, indicated at S, may be seen in Figures 5, 17 and 18. Each such support includes a stationary block Hi which is preferably generally cylindrical, with its axis vertically disposed. The horizontal flange portion 18 of the rotatable turret I3 is provided with a circular series of equidistantly spaced apertures through which the several blocks project and, extending downwardly from the under surface of the flange l8, are a series of cylindrical flanges iBa, the inner wall surface of each such flange being closely engaged by the outer surface of the lower portion of the associated block 10 so that the blocks are securely held against horizontal displacement or rocking movement with respect to flange I8. Each block 10 is provided with a peripheral flange 100. which is received within an annular groove formed in the upper surface of the turret flange I 8 and encircling the block receiving aperture. A bolt ll disposed within a vertically extending bolt receiving recess in the block, the lower end of the bolt having threaded engagement with an aperture formed in the disc-like member I2, the periphery of which underlies the annular downwardly facing end surface of flange l8a. When the bolt H is tightened block 10 will be secured against vertical displacement. There may be several such securing bolts if desired.

Directly above each block 10 is a disc-like element [3, horizontally disposed and a portion of the upper surface of which comprises a seating surface for a container to be filled, a container the base of which is resting upon such a seating surface being illustrated in chain lines in Figure 17. To the member 13 is afiixed cylindrical skirt 14 which encircles the block 10, the arrangement being such that, when the container supporting platform 73 is elevated from the position in which it is shown in Figures 17 and 18 to the position in which it is shown in Figure 5 (to the right of that figure), no gap between member 13 and block 70 may be observed. Means for raising and lowering the container supporting disc 13 includes a vertically extending rod 15, the enlarged upper end of which is secured by screw bolts to the under-surface of member 13 and which is slidably mounted in bearings 'Idb disposed within a cylindrical vertically extending aperture 100 which passes entirely through the block 10. Upon the lower end of rod is mounted a pin which carries a roller or cam follower 16, this follower being positioned within a cam track 11 cut in the outer surface of the annular cam member 18 which is mounted upon the horizontally extending web Illa of the supporting frame 10.

As the turret revolves, the several rods 15 will be successively elevated as the successive cam followers 16 reach an upwardly inclined portion of the cam track 11, each container platform 13 being lifted, for instance, from the position in which it is illustrated, at the left of Figure 5, to the position in which it is shown at the right of the same figure. At a later point in the travel of each cam follower it will reach a descending portion of the cam track and the associated rod 15 and container supporting member 13 will descend. By this means a container placed upon a container receiving member 13 at one station will be given a rising and falling movement as the turret rotates. The direction of turret rotation is indicated by the arrow B, in Figure 23 and it will be observed from an inspection of this figure that it includes legends which indicate the positions in its orbit of travel at which each container support starts to rise and starts to descend, as well as indicating by other legends the initial and final movements of other operating parts of the mechanism. As heretofore explained, each container, as it is moved upwardly, engages the vertically movable member 36 of the dispensing mechanism immediately above it and lifts that member, thus opening the valve and releasing the liquid to be dispensed. Legends on the diagram, Figure 23, indicate the positions of the container support when the filling operation commences, likewise the points in the rotary travel of each filling mechanism at which the sleeve 35 closes and opens the port 3%. When the container descends, the member is likewise lowered and valves 31 and 39 close. The movement of the entire assembly, comprising sleeve 35, member 36 and the valve means "is, as explained, brought about by the associated arm L.

Means associated with each container support grips and steadies the container while it is being filled. This means is likewise shown in Figures 5, 17, 18, 19 and 20. Stationary parallel container engaging arms are indicated at 8i), each of these arms extending horizontally. from a stationary spindle-like vertically extending member 8|, the lower end of which rests upon the upper end of a short cylindrical pedestal 13a integral with the container supporting element 13. Member 8! is securely held in the position in which it is illustrated by means of a screw bolt 82. It will be observed that the arms Bil are positioned to engage one vertical sidewall of a container placed upon the adjacent container support. The container engaging arms of a second pair of such arms are indicated at 34, one end of each of these arms being integral with or affixed to a vertical spindle-like member 85 which is similar to the member 8|. Member 85 is mounted to rotate aboutits vertical axis and means is provided for effecting its rotation to swing the associated arms 84 into and out of container engaging position at desired points in the travel of the turret.

As disclosed in Figures 1 and 4, a container at position C is not engaged by either pair of container embracing arms and arms 84 of the associated gripping mechanism are swung away from arms to permit the ready placement of the container on the container support. A container which has been moved into position C is shown to be gripped by both container embracing arms, arms 8 1 having been swung towards arms Bil and the container moved against arms 80 and closely engaged by both pairs of arms. From position C to position C each successive container is thus securely maintained in position beneath a liquid dispensing means. As each container moves from position C" to position 0 the container embracing arms 84 are swung away and the container is thus released so that it may be removed from the charging turret.

The means for rotating a member 85 at the proper times, and thus swinging the associated arms 8 toward and away from a container includes a vertically disposed spindle 88, the upper end of which is provided with an axially extending threaded recess which receives the threaded lower end of a screw bolt 89, the spindle 88 being thus suspended in the position in which it is shown in Figure 18, an annular flange 88a integral with the spindle closely engaging the under-surface of member 13. The lower end of spindle 88 is disposed within a sleeve 90 and is keyed thereto. A short cylindrical part 9| secured within sleeve 90 by means of a rivet 92 comprises an integral extension of a member 93 in the nature of a crank, this crank havingrotatably mounted upon its outer end a cam follower 94 which is located in a cam track 95 formed in the upper surface of the annular cam member 78 previously referred to. As the turret rotates the cam follower will be moved inwardly and outwardly by reason of variations in the position of the cam track, for instance, from the position in which it is shown in Figure 19 to the position in which it is shown in Figure 20, and, as a result of this radial movement of the cam follower 94, the member 85 will be oscillated about its vertical axis and the arms 34 will be swung from the positions in which they are shown in Figure 19 to the positions in which they are shown in Figure 20, and thereafter back to the first position, in order to perform their essential container engaging and holding functions.

Novel means is employed for successively placing empty containers upon the container supporting members which are successively moved into container receiving position, this means being illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, inclusive. It includes a conveyor which is generally indicated at W and the precise details of construction of which may be widely varied and hence need not be precisely described. It is the function of the conveyor to move containers placed thereon in the direction of the arrow G from a conveyor charging position, which may be some distance away, to the ultimate container position C at which position the container is engaged by further means later to be described. Preferably, the conveyor W is of the endless chain type, the chain having mounted thereon a series of flat container supporting plates of relatively small size, such as indicated at 1-60. A container upon moving into position C has its forward motion halted by reason of the engagement of its leading face or side with two fiat surfaces of the vertically spaced horizontally disposed members Hi! and W2, members ml and W2 comprising annular rings disposed in coaxial relationship and each having a series of radiating arms, these arms being indicated at Mild. and "lid respectively, and each arm mm directly overlying a similar arm l-ElZa. The vertically disposed outwardly facing areas of rings lti and M12 which comprise stop surfaces, arranged in pairs, for the oncoming containers respectively are indicated at Nib and H12?) in Figure 2, and are tangentially disposed with respect to the axis about which the members fill and till rotate. The members it! and M2 are mounted upon a .domelike support 504, these members encircling member LM and being rigidly secured thereto. The :arms Hlla and 362a are not disposed radially .of the axis of rotation of support 104 as may be seen from .an inspection of Figure 1, but each is .so positioned that it will, when it reaches container engaging position, lie closely parallel to a flat surface of .a container reaching position C Successive pairs of arms are so relatively disposed angularly that a container may be readily introduced into the space between them. The drum I04 is carried upon a vertically extending shaft use which, in the normal operation of the machine, rotates at a predetermined constant angular velocity so that successive containers are moved from position C through position C into position C The conveyor W may be continuously operated or intermittently operated, but is preferably continuously operated and at such linear velocity as to bring successive containers into position 0 in timed relationship to the rotary movements of the drum I04 and the container engaging and pushing arms. Each container, as it leaves the conveyor, will move on to the curved horizontal trackway or container supporting rail Hit by means of which the container is slidabl-y supported until it is pushed on to a platformmember 13, at position C To insure that containers approaching the container engaging arms ltla and Ma are properly spaced upon the conveyor W, and hence will move in perfect timed relationship to the means just described for circularly moving the containers onto the charging machine, a container positioning device is employed. This device includes a spacing finger I08 mounted upon a horizontally extending shaft Hi9 suitably supported for rocking movement in the frame of the machine. lhe finger 1% is L-shaped as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings and is adapted to be moved from the position in which it is shown in full lines in this View to the position in which it is shown in dotted lines in the same figure. When moved to its full line position the free end of the finger we projects into the path of movement Of containers upon conveyor W and will halt the movement of any container, such as the container C, which strikes against it. When it is removed from full line position to dotted line position such container is released and may continue its movement with the conveyor in the direction of the arrow G. It will be understood that the containers passing the finger H38 are moving between parallel side guides Hll and Hi and may not rotate when engaged and temporarily halted by finger 08. The finger is operated at intervals which are precisely timed with relation to the movement of shaft M5, the shaft Hi9 upon which the finger ms is mounted having afiixed to one end a radially extending arm H2 which carries a .cam roller or follower I I3, which is in constant engagement with the under surface of the cam i M secured to the horizontal under-surface of the bottom plate of member iEM. As shaft J05 revolves, carrying with it the arms Ma and 02a, the successive containers will be properly positioned on the conveyor for engagement by the arms and, despite any irregularities of movement of the conveyor W, the oncoming containers will be successively fed into position C at the desired intervals. I

As heretofore explained, each container, after having been charged with liquid, ultimately reaches the position C shown in Figure 1, and is there engaged by means which removes the container from the charging machine without spilling any of its contents. This mechanism comprises essentially an endless conveyor which includes upper and lower conveyor chains and two superposed series of container receiving brackets 12!, mounted upon the chains Hell, respectively, each bracket having a long container engaging arm iZla and -a shorter container engaging arm l2ib, these arms extending outwardly from the chain I20 and being substantially parallel,,likewise two container engaging abutments lZ-Ic intermediate arms Mia and 121-1). Each container reaching position 0 is released by the gripping arms which have been in engagement with its opposite sidewalls up until that point and arms 12m of the conveyor move into position and engage one fiat face of that .container as shown in Figure l, the container engaging bracket being -at that time at the approximate midpoint of an arc of travel :along which it moves as each conveyor chain I20 passes around a chain supporting sprocket keyed to member I28, as illustrated in Figure 21. Continued movement of the chains and brackets I2I cause the container engaged thereby to move from the container supporting surface of member 13 upon which it has been resting, on to the circular container supporting trackways l22, parallel vertically disposed arcuate guides I23 constraining the container to a path of movement directly above supports I22 and also causing the container to move into position to be engaged by the shorter bracket arms I2 Ib and into contact with the lugs I2 Ic previously mentioned, a container thus positioned being indicated at position C From position C the container will be moved, in the direction indicated by the arrow V, to further mechanisms for closing and sealing the same.

During the time that the container is moved from position C to C its upper end is squared by a means now to be described. It will be understood that containers of the type of that illustrated in Figure 24 are initially formed as collapsed or flat tubular members. After having been squared out each tends to resume its original shape and to revert from a truly square member to a diamond shaped member, this following from the natural tendency of distorted fibers to resume the positions which they originally occupied. By reason of the fact that the bottom of the container has been closed its lower end is staunchly braced and may not become distorted. The upper end, however, which is as yet unclosed, will have a rather strong tendency to become diamond shaped in horizontal section. Means is therefore provided for distorting the container top in such manner as to counteract this tendency, this means including a pusher element adapted to make contact with one corner of the container top and to move this corner toward the stationary rail I23. These container distorting fingers, which are four in number, are indicated at I25. Each is mounted for oscillation about a fixed vertical axis, its inner end being supported on a pin I26 carried in a rotatable member I21. Member I2! is secured to the upper end of a cylindrical block I28 which encircles a sleeve I29 within which is disposed a stationary shaft I30. Upon the top of shaft I33 is mounted a fixed cam I3I having a downwardly facing cam track I3 Ia. Within cam track I3la are four cam. rollers I32, each of which is fixed upon the end of an arm I33. Each arm I33 is mounted upon a pin I26 and is therefore fixed with relation to the associated finger I25. As member I2! rotates each finger I25 rocks about the axis of the associated pin I 28, occupying the several successive positions indicated clearly in Figures 4, 4a, 4b and 40. As finger I25 moves from the position in which it is shown in Figure dc to the position in which it is shown in Figure 4b, the upper end of a container occupying position is distorted, the corner engaged by finger I25 being pressed toward the diametrically opposed corner. As the container moves further, and into position 0 the pressure finger I25 recedes and the top of the container will resume approximately a square horizontal section so that it may be received and satisfactorily manipulated by the container top folding mechanism which is provided toeffect the final closing of the charged contain er. The rails I23 function to limit the outward movement of the container during this distor-- tion, and thus cooperate with the members I2I and I 2Ia.

As shown in Figure 22, the straight reaches of chains I2!) upon which brackets I2I are mounted are supported upon rails M9. Each rail includes a laterally facing recess which serves as a runway for chain supporting rollers MI mounted upon stub axles carried by the chain, and also is so formed as to provide a downwardly facing slot Hi2 which constitutes a protective runway for the chain proper, the chain having rollers Hi3 spaced along its length to reduce friction.

This application is a division of application Serial 682,013, filed July 8, 1946, now Patent No. 2,611,525, issued Sept. 23, 1952.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured. by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for charging containers in combination, a tank for a liquid, a support for the tank mounted for rotation about a fixed vertical axis and mechanism associated with the tank for delivering a measured quantity of liquid as the tank and support rotate about said axis, said mechanism including a vertically movable member, a lever pivotally mounted on the support, and a stationary cam having a vertically extending relatively wide cam face above the point of pivotal mounting of the lever, with which one end of the lever is in continuous contact, the other end of the lever being in operative engagement with the said member, said first mentioned end being adjustable vertically along the face of said cam to vary the distance between the pivotal axis of the lever and the point of engagement of the lever and cam face to thereby vary the extent of movement of said lever and said vertically movable member.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the lever is mounted for rocking movement about a horizontal axis and has a generally horizontal arm engaging the said member, and a generally vertical arm, said vertical arm being extensible, and a stationary cam having a relatively wide face adapted to be engaged by said arm for all adjustments of the arm.

3. Valve operating mechanism for apparatus of the type described comprising, in combination, a rotatable turret, a valve member and a valve operating lever carried by said turret, and a stationary cam, said lever being pivotally mounted upon said turret and the cam having a relatively wide cam face extending generally toward and away from the point about which the lever pivots, said lever having one arm extending to and engaging said valve member and the other arm extending to and engaging said cam, said arms being angularly disposed. and said last mentioned arm being extensible so that the distance between the point about which the lever pivots, and point of engagement of arm and cam face may be varied as desired to thereby vary the extent of movement of said lever and said valve member.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which said vertically extending arm embodies two telescoping elements and means for relatively adjusting said elements axially and maintaining them in any desired adjusted relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,168,380 Winton Aug. 8, 1939 2,353,519 Spurr July 11, 1944 

